The 10 Best Cities To Live In The World Right Now

I want to be anywhere but here. Sounds poetic, I know. It's also the only truth I know at the moment. And then, I'm reminded about a quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson. It goes like this: “There are three wants which can never be satisfied: that of the rich wanting more, that of the sick, wanting something different, and that of the traveler, who says, “anywhere but here”.”

Let's see, I'm pretty satisfied at the moment—and I'm grateful for that—and I don't really want more of anything, thank you, once again. Coming to the last part, yes, I'd like to be anywhere but here. But, anywhere seems too vague and indecisive; no offence, to Mr. Emerson. The Mercer's Quality of Living Index recently released their annual list of the 20 best cities in the world to live in. These cities are based on statistics drawn up on account of factors like economic, political, environment, infrastructure, public transport, health, recreation and housing. So, we picked out the top 10 from the list to share with you… you know, in case you were thinking of moving out of the country… for good…

1. Vienna, Austria

Renowned Austrian private tour guide, Diane Naar-Elphee tells Telegraph UK that it is “a city that charms and seduces from scratch, but even more the longer you stay.” Be it for a quick-paced travel agenda, or an easy-going, stop-and-stare kind of trip, Elphee says that Vienna comes with a seemingly never-ending wealth of things to do and see throughout the year, irrespective of whether you're visiting for the first time, or the hundredth time. The city which has been enlisted for eight years, in a row now, also happens to be one of the richest when it comes to culture and music, with a beautiful mix of cafés and bars, galleries, shops and street markets.

2. Zurich, Switzerland

Divided by the River Limmat, the city sits along the northern shore of Lake Zurich, from where it gets its name, and is surrounded by snow-capped mountains. The streets are squeaky clean and the trams are always on time. And unlike in most other countries (India doesn't even qualify), the Swiss pay phones in Zurich are just as stylish as the city is posh and dotted with the classiest bunch of restaurants, cafés, bars, clubs and museums.

3. Auckland, New Zealand

This is what celebrity chef, Monica Galetti, who grew up in the city says about it. “It's big enough to feel like a bustling city but I love that you can get on a ferry and 30 minutes later, be picking oysters at one of the small islands, such as Waiheke, off Auckland.” The country's primary gateway, Auckland is home to nearly one third of New Zealand's entire population. And outlining the city is the Waitekere ranges—the country's wilder side that gives it a picturesque view.

4. Munich, Germany

Aside from the fact that Oktoberfest starts right here, Munich is easily one of Germany's most sophisticated and refined cities, what with the abundance of a thriving culture at every nook and corner, the way the city embraces change every Autumn and manages to look completely different and mesmerizing at the same time. Author Janette Griffiths tells the Telegraph UK, “Some in Munich call it ‘Toytown' because many of the grittier elements of urban living—litter, dirt, crime—seem to be absent. And it's true, Munich does rank highly in the ‘quality of life' surveys, but, for me, Toytown is a misnomer that belies the city's character and sense of drama, glamour and romance.”

5. Vancouver, Canada

At last year's Telegraph Travel Awards, more than 70,000 readers rated Vancouver as the second best city on Earth, after Cape Town. The city continues to find favour among people across the world, mostly for business and economic purposes as Vancouver is constantly ranked as one of the world's most ‘liveable' cities. Even the Economic Intelligence Unit placed Vancouver on the third spot in its most recent reports, right after Melbourne and Vienna.

6. Dusseldorf, Germany

Telegraph's very own travel writer, the well-known Simon Horsford says, “Art is big in Dusseldorf. With more than 100 galleries and 26 museums, a renowned opera house and cutting-edge architecture, this chic and fashion-conscious city by the Rhine patiently loves its culture—and its beer.” He further adds, “It's a bonus that it's also a city where everything is within comparatively easy reach, with most of its attractions accessible on foot or bicycle, often via its many landscaped parks.”

7. Frankfurt, Germany

The city is nicknamed ‘Mainhattan', and is inspired by Frankfurt's skyscrapers. Writing more about this, Paul Wade, Telegraph UK says, “The city stretches out like a 3D map: to the north are the Taunnus Mountains; below marking the line of the old fortifications is a broad green belt of parkland; to the south, across the River Main, is the suburb of Sachsenhausen. Frankfurt is compact, with many pedestrianised streets, so can easily walk everywhere, hopping on a tram when your feet complain. Slalom your way past tourists photographing the half-timbered houses and check out the hip MMK Museum of Modern Art and Caricatura, a museum of wickedly satirical cartoons.”

8. Geneva, Switzerland

Sophie Butler, a specialist in travel consumer affairs, tells the Telegraph, “Geneva has a rich and colourful history of religious turmoil and revolution, a handful of fascinating museums and grand monuments. Every year thousands of skiers pass through Geneva airport's arrivals hall, bypass the city and head straight for the mountains. They are missing out.” The city is fringed by the Alps and Jura mountain ranges and extends across the River Rhone at the south-western end of Lake Leman. Old Geneva is laced with small bars, cafés and antique shops that lie tucked away on the cobbled streets, narrow lanes and hidden courtyards.

9. Copenhagen, Denmark

The capital city of Denmark is home to one of the world's greatest chefs, Rene Redzepi's landmark, Noma which, albeit is closed now, inspired the creation and flourishing of various other popular food restaurants and cafés in and around Copenhagen; earning the city the title of one of the world's best destinations for a thriving food culture. The recent Michelin guide awarded 16 of Copenhagen's prominent restaurants a total of 20 stars which is the highest number allotted by Michelin.

One of the relatively smaller cities in Switzerland, Basel is known majorly around the world as the hub of Baselworld, an annual event that sees the art and craft of watchmaking at its finest, come together from different parts of the world. It could very well be called the Cannes of watchmaking. Aside from this affair, Basel has a cultural platform that, according to Telegraph's Ivan Hewitt, is astonishing. “The city”, he says, “sits on the Rhine, with views over mountains to France to the west and Germany to the north. There are plenty of historic sites. It's also a focal point for modern architecture; one of the charming things about Basel is the way old and new are found cheek-by-jowl.”